dgk wrote:
I have a lot of clover and crabgrass in my lawn but hesitate to use
nasty chemicals because I let my two cats into my backyard and don't
want them to get hurt. I'm going away for a week, so the cats won't be
going out. Is there anything I can apply before I go that will do in
the bad plants and be gone by the time I let the cats out again?

I read about RoundUp in the Poison Ivy thread and that seems perfect
except for it killing the grass that I'd prefer to keep. I don't want
to come back to a brown dirt garden.

Perhaps next spring I'll spray the whole lawn with RoundUp and plant
grass a few days later? My lawn really is being overtaken by clover.
I've tried lime; the ground has a lot of clay.

Suggestions are welcome.

Your cats will likely encounter worse than Roundup if allowed to run -
attacks by other animals, disease, automobiles, etc.

Clover is easy to eliminate with broadleaf weed killer - can apply with
hose end sprayer. Apply when growing actively and not when lawn grass
is stressed.

Crabgrass is a lot more difficult - digging out, as tough as that is, is
one good way. Pre-emergents work on crabgrass, but timing (PREemergent)
is critical. It also requires care in appl, as it is not enviro-friendly.